Page 32 of The Bro Date (Best Bros Forever #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

TOBY

I jolt awake to a loud boom that practically shakes the whole cabin, my eyes blinking into a black void.

“What was that?” I whisper groggily, half-asleep and breathing heavily as if I just woke from a nightmare.

A bright flash of light illuminates the entire bedroom in the blink of an eye, and my brain finally puts it all together.

A thunderstorm. Another deep rumble makes the windows rattle.

“It’s close,” Shane murmurs. “Gonna check the weather app.” He reaches out, trying to feel for his phone on the nightstand.

Another flash of lightning, followed by a loud crack, has me whimpering and sinking deeper under the covers. The heavy rain pounds against the roof, and the wind howls, whipping around the cabin like an angry banshee.

“Can’t find my phone. Close your eyes one sec,” Shane warns before I hear the click of the lamp switch, but sense no light behind my closed lids. “Shit. I think the power’s out,” he grunts.

“Really?” I roll over and attempt to turn on my own bedside lamp with no luck. “Shit,” I parrot. My heart rate spikes, and I lie back down, curling myself into Shane. “What are we gonna do?”

“I scoped out the shed in the back when we first got here, and I saw a small generator. It should be enough to run the fridge and maybe a light or two. Water still works, it’ll just be cold.

No harm in that. We’ll be fine, Tobes. Promise.

” Shane gives me a big, reassuring squeeze, easing some of my worry but not all of it. “Go back to sleep. I got you.”

Another loud boom gives me a scare, making me jerk in his arms. “I think Mother Nature has other plans because there’s no way I can sleep through this,” I admit.

“Any idea when the storm’s gonna end?” My anxiety won’t allow me to relax, knowing we’re surrounded by potential danger.

“What if a tree falls? It would crush the entire cabin!”

“Stop worrying. It’s passing over us right now,” Shane reassures me. “This is the worst of it.”

“How do you know?”

“My phone still works, and I also counted the seconds between the lightning and thunder. The storm is moving away from us. I promise, baby.”

“But—”

“Shhh . . .” Shane interrupts, rubbing my back slowly and methodically, helping me relax further so that I can try to enjoy the soothing sounds of the thunderstorm as it finally starts to move away.

He continues with the soft circles on my back, and I fall asleep easier than I thought I could, safely wrapped in the arms of the man I love.

I think I may actually like thunderstorms when they’re with Shane.

The next morning, I wake up and find the bed empty.

Shane’s already up, so I crawl out of the sheets and quickly make the bed.

It’s hot and stuffy inside with no AC, so I grab a pair of comfy shorts and a tank top to throw on.

It doesn’t take me long to find Shane on the back porch, grilling our breakfast.

As soon as I open the sliding glass door and step outside, a refreshing breeze sweeps over me and cools my flushed skin. We’ll have to open some windows today and get some air flow inside.

“That was crazy last night,” I say. “Now it’s all bright and sunny, as if the storm never happened.”

“Don’t be fooled. Scattered thunderstorms all day.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I booked a couple’s massage and mud masks instead of a hike,” I laugh, making Shane smile as he continues to cook breakfast.

“But we’re still getting muddy,” he deadpans.

“Hey! This is different. This is healthy mud.”

“Healthy mud?” He looks over with a skeptical brow raised.

“Yes, you’ll see,” I reply matter-of-factly, changing the subject because he can’t knock it until he tries it. “Any news on when the power will be restored?”

“By ten tonight, unfortunately. Lightning hit a transformer,” Shane informs me. “But we’ve got food, water, a generator, and a grill.” He looks over his shoulder at me. “And each other.”

“It’s not that bad, huh?” I murmur, and he just laughs, coming over for a morning hug.

Shane envelopes me in his arms, burying his face in my messy mop of curls. He breathes deeply before kissing the top of my head. “Coffee’s in the French press. I’m going to start the generator now that you’re awake. The table’s already set. I’ll just be a minute. Then we’ll eat.”

“Thank you,” I say with a blush, while he stares intently down at me. My belly swoops low, and my face heats even more, knowing I’m the center of Shane Carmichael’s attention.

He leans down and kisses me sweetly before jogging down the wooden deck stairs to get to the generator.

I quickly make my coffee at the cute little coffee bar Shane set up, adding a splash of milk and stirring with one of the wooden sticks.

There’s also honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg, so I sprinkle a little in.

I sit under the umbrella, sipping my delicious coffee and watching my sexy boyfriend exert himself.

He’s wearing a black tank top and matching athletic shorts, and it looks like he didn’t even comb his hair today. Just how I like it. He yanks the cord three times before the old generator kicks to life, a low rumble filling the air.

Blowing on my coffee, I grin into my mug, when he looks up with a smirk, catching me creeping on him. I quickly spin around in my seat as he makes his way over to the stairs.

“Enjoy the show, hmm?” he teases.

“As a matter of fact, I did. And I also enjoyed the coffee bar. You get an A plus, boyfriend,” I giggle.

“Oh yeah? Wait until you try this frittata,” Shane says, making his way over to the grill. “Bet I’ll get extra credit.” He checks the food, taking everything off the grill and plating it family style.

“I bet you will too,” I laugh, my stomach growling loudly. “Need any help?” I offer, still sitting at the table.

“If you don’t mind getting some drinks for us. Water’s fine for me.”

I nod, setting my coffee on the table and slipping back inside. I grab two bottles of water while Shane finishes up with the food.

“Spinach artichoke frittata with grilled tomatoes and feta crumbles on top,” Shane announces, serving us each a large slice.

“ Mmm. This looks amazing. Thank you.”

We inhale our food, both of us going back for seconds.

When I’m done, I set my knife and fork down, leaning back in my seat and staring across the table at my boyfriend. “I am the luckiest guy in the world to be dating such a talented chef. Every single day, I’m amazed by you. I love you. So much.”

Shane smiles, and it’s so carefree and happy that I almost don’t recognize him.

He leans forward and reaches his long arm across the table, grabbing my hand.

“I can say the same about you, Toby. You’ve opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed.

One full of love, acceptance, and kindness.

Your soul is as beautiful as the music you create.

And I’m honored to call you my boyfriend. ”

I squeeze his hand. “Thank you,” I murmur, lost for words. Both of us want a better family dynamic than we had growing up, and I think maybe we’ve found that in each other.

Mountain Bliss Day Spa is right off the main road in town, so it’s easy to get to and easy to park. I’m ready for a massage, and excited to see Shane’s reaction to the mud.

We walk hand in hand to the front door, and Shane opens it like a gentleman, allowing me to walk through first. I wait for him to follow, and we go up to the girl at the reception desk.

“Good afternoon. My name is Rylee,” a pretty blonde girl says with a bright smile. “How can I help you today?”

“Hi. Tobias Livingston. Reservation for two.”

“Okay. Yep. Right here. I have you down for a couples massage and full-body mud masks.”

“That’s us.”

She smiles warmly and stands from her desk. “Right this way.”

We quietly follow her down the dimly lit hallway as soft music plays mixed with nature sounds that create a soothing, dreamlike ambiance.

“Right in here,” Rylee says. “This is Vanessa and Simon, your masseuses, and they’re going to take great care of you.”

“Thank you,” we both murmur, introducing ourselves to Vanessa and Simon before slipping into our robes in the changing room.

“This is my first massage,” Shane whispers to me before we head back to the room where our massage therapists are waiting.

“I know. But you deserve many more. Especially with how hard you work in the kitchen.”

Shane leans down, pressing his lips to mine. “I love you.”

“Love you too. Now let’s go get the kinks worked out.”

“I’ll show you kinks ,” Shane growls, and I giggle, darting out of his grip and out of the changing room.

“Rub the mud on each other, let it harden, then rinse off and soak in the natural hot spring behind the building,” Rylee informs us, taking us to the mudroom before she disappears back to the front desk, leaving us to our own dirty devices.

I scoop up a handful of cool mud and slap it against Shane’s chest with a splat, spreading it down his abdomen and getting another handful for his arms.

“How does it feel?” I ask, slathering more cool, wet mud on his body.

“Cold and kinda slimy but also gritty,” Shane admits with a shrug. “Not bad.”

I chuckle. “Well, it’s detoxifying and exfoliating. You should glow after. So I’m gonna put some on your face, too.”

Shane stares me in the eyes while I carefully apply the mud mask to his face.

“What?” I laugh. “Quit distracting me before I get it in your eye. Or your . . . Whoops.” I grab the towel to wipe the mud from his lips, but before I can, he darts forward and kisses me.

“ Yuck! Bleh! Shane, I can taste it,” I whine.

“You started it,” he counters, and I laugh loudly, feeling like we’re just two kids again without the worry of college, careers, and our sexuality. “My turn to do you,” Shane says, and I swallow thickly, my mind instantly going to the gutter.